The Royal Family’s Strange Tradition of Weighing Themselves



Every family has its own quirky holiday traditions, but an odd ritual from the British royal family just might top them all. There’s a royal family tradition that requires each member to weigh themselves before and after Christmas dinner. The Queen asks each guest who arrives at Sandringham to weigh themselves using a pair of antique scales, and then has them step on the scales again before they leave the estate. The idea is apparently to ensure that the royals are being well fed. The weird tradition dates back to King Edward VII’s reign in the early 1900s, when His Majesty was apparently concerned about people’s health and whether or not they were eating enough on Christmas. The weigh-in applies to everyone, despite the fact that no in-laws have ever been invited. In fact, it’s unusual for an outsider to be invited. Meanwhile, after the guests have weighed in, they are expected to enter the dining room in seniority order. Nothing highlights the warmth of being with family more than a set of rules and regulations.